Gore vidal - Famous People Lessons

FAMOUS PEOPLE

GORE VIDAL



CONTENTS:

The Reading / Tapescript

2

Synonym Match and Phrase Match

3

Listening Gap Fill

4

Choose the Correct Word

5

Spelling

6

Put the Text Back Together

7

Scrambled Sentences

8

Discussion

9

Student Survey

10

Writing

11

Homework

12

Answers

13

THE READING / TAPESCRIPT

GORE VIDAL

Gore Vidal was famous for speaking his mind on the hottest issues in America and around the world. He was a prolific novelist, essayist and screen and stage play writer. He also ran for the US Senate. He was related to former US President Jimmy Carter and Nobel Prize winner Al Gore. Vidal was a strong critic of the George W. Bush administration.

Vidal was born Eugene Luther Vidal Jr. in New York in 1925. His father worked in the US Air Force and his mother was an actress. He disliked his first name and changed it to Gore when he was a teenager. He was raised and educated in Washington D.C. and spent a great deal of time learning from his grandfather, Democratic Senator Thomas Gore.

Vidal's writing career began when he was nineteen. The book `Williwaw' was about his experiences in the military. In 1948, aged 22, he wrote his ground-breaking `The City and the Pillar', which shocked many Americans. It was the first American novel to focus on homosexuality. The New York Times refused to review his next five books. This established Vidal's reputation for his outspokenness.

For six decades Vidal wrote commentaries on American politics and society. He has a huge following of admirers, including critic Martin Amis, who said Vidal "is learned, funny and exceptionally clearsighted. Even his blind spots are illuminating." Vidal was a member of the World Can't Wait organization, which demands the impeachment of George W. Bush for crimes against humanity. He died in August 2012.

Copyright ?

2

GORE VIDAL

SYNONYM MATCH: Match the words from the article on the left with their

synonyms on the right. Are your answers the same as other students'?

Paragraphs 1 and 2

1.

hottest

2

prolific

3.

critic

4.

teenager

5.

raised

6.

a great deal

a. reviewer b. brought up c. most topical d. lots e. youth f. productive

Paragraphs 3 and 4

7.

ground-breaking

8.

novel

9.

reputation

10. commentaries

11 learned

12 impeachment

g. image h. pioneering i. reports j. prosecution k book l intelligent

PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article.

1. speaking his 2 He was related to former 3. a strong critic of the 4. He disliked his first 5. spent a great deal of time 6. the first American novel to focus 7. The New York Times refused to 8. Vidal's reputation for his 9. He has a huge following 10. crimes against

a. learning from his grandfather b. mind c. outspokenness d. humanity e. of admirers f. George W. Bush administration g. on homosexuality h. US President Jimmy Carter i. name and changed it to Gore j. review his next five books

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LISTENING GAP FILL:

GORE VIDAL

Gore Vidal was famous for _________________ on the hottest issues in America and around the world. He was _________________, essayist and screen and stage play writer. He also ran for the US Senate. He is _________________ US President Jimmy Carter and Nobel Prize winner Al Gore. Vidal was _________________ the George W. Bush administration.

Vidal was born Eugene Luther Vidal Jr. in New York in 1925. His father _________________ Air Force and his mother was an actress. He _________________ and changed it to Gore when he was a teenager. He was _________________ in Washington D.C. and ______________ of time learning from his grandfather, Democratic Senator Thomas Gore.

Vidal's _______________ when he was nineteen. The book `Williwaw' was about his experiences in the military. In 1948, aged 22, he wrote _______________ `The City and the Pillar', which shocked many Americans. It was the first American _______________ homosexuality. The New York Times refused to review his next five books. This established Vidal's _______________ outspokenness.

For six decades Vidal wrote _______________ American politics and society. He has a huge _______________, including critic Martin Amis, who said Vidal "is learned, funny and exceptionally clearsighted. Even ________________ illuminating." Vidal was a member of the World Can't Wait organization, which demands the impeachment of George W. Bush _______________ humanity. He died in August 2012.

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4

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD:

Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.

GORE VIDAL

Gore Vidal was famous for speaking his brain / mind on the hottest issues / tissues in America and around the world. He was a prolific novelist, essayist and screen and stage play writer. He also ran to / for the US Senate. He was related to former US President Jimmy Carter and Nobel Prize winner Al Gore. Vidal was a strong critic / criticism of the George W. Bush administration.

Vidal was born Eugene Luther Vidal Jr. in New York in 1925. His father worked in /on the US Air Force and his mother was an actress. He disliked his first / last name and changed it to Gore when he was a teenager. He was risen / raised and educated in Washington D.C. and spent a great / greatly deal of time learning from his grandfather, Democratic Senator Thomas Gore.

Vidal's writing / written career began when he was nineteen. The book `Williwaw' was about his experiences in the militia / military. In 1948, aged 22, he wrote his ground-breaking `The City and the Pillar', which shocked many Americans. It was the first American novel / novelty to focus on homosexuality. The New York Times refused / refusal to review his next five books. This established Vidal's reputation for his outspokenness.

For six / sixty decades Vidal wrote commentaries on American politics and society. He has a huge follower / following of admirers, including critic Martin Amis, who said Vidal "is learned / learning, funny and exceptionally clear-sighted. Even his blind spots are illuminating." Vidal was a member of the World Can't Wait organization, which supplies / demands the impeachment of George W. Bush for crimes against humanity. He died in August 2012.

Copyright ?

5

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